The finale of The White Lotus aired on Sunday, delivering the unexpected twists that fans have come to anticipate. However, one intriguing storyline that never made it to air was the romantic encounter between Sarah Catherine Hook's character, Piper, and Nicholas Duvernay's character, Zion. This revelation came from creator Mike White during an episode of The White Lotus Official Season 3 Podcast, where he expressed disappointment over the cut scene.
In the script for the show's last episode, Piper decides to lose her virginity and ultimately has sex with Zion, who is revealed to be Belinda's son. White explained that there was a significant scene in which Piper contemplates her decision, stating, "It's true. Saxon's right about this one thing. I need to get this over with." This pivotal moment occurs after she leaves a monastery, as she reflects on her need for sexual experience while surveying the restaurant at the end of the episode.
White noted that the reason this storyline did not make it into the finale was primarily due to timing constraints. With the episode already running for an hour and a half, adding the extra ten minutes for this romantic subplot felt excessive. He explained, "It just felt like I was trying to do too much narratively," considering the complexity of tying up various plotlines in this season of the hit HBO series.
This season featured a diverse cast, including Hook's Piper and her family—Timothy (Jason Isaacs), Victoria (Parker Posey), and her brothers Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola). Natasha Rothwell reprised her role as Belinda, the spa manager from the first season, and her son Duvernay's character was introduced to help navigate a life-threatening situation for Belinda.
White also highlighted a moment in the finale where Piper rejoins her family, and her brother comments, "You look different," while reading a self-help book. This line was intended to signify a character shift for Piper. In the closing scene on the boat, White described Piper as reflecting on her recent sexual experience, noting that it created an interesting contrast with her brother's self-help reading.
During a cast event at the Four Seasons resort in Westlake Village, California, Hook shared that there were more comedic moments cut from the series. She recalled a recurring theme where Piper encounters a 'creepy' guy checking her out throughout various episodes. Each time, she would respond with an 'Ew,' creating a humorous thread that ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
Jon Gries, who portrayed Greg/Gary, chimed in, reminding everyone that it was always a bald guy checking her out, which added to the comedic element Hook found amusing. This running gag sparked curiosity about whether it was a figment of Piper's imagination or a real occurrence.
Fans eager for more insights and details can catch all episodes of the third season of The White Lotus, now available for streaming on Max. Stay updated with breaking TV news, exclusive recaps, and interviews with your favorite stars by signing up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter.
